So my common practice of solving one tricky problem over sleeping has kept me up at this ungodly hour. This is what I love and get annoyed at about myself. It's a satisfaction-rest trade-off. Why can't I have both?
A friend just popped by out of nowhere for two days just to say hi and grab some stuff. I guess I shouldn't complain because I kinda did the same to her and a few other friends as well not too long ago. Great catching up even if it is just a couple of hours in a year.
I've been called a patient man many times before and people always say they wished they had more patience or patience like mine immediately after bestowing that honour upon me. I understand that patience is something that is hard to cultivate in a information driven world where, just like our information, we want it fast and now and this practice of patience is something I also struggle with. But it seems to me that people don't seem to be taking up any effort to build on patience. It seems to me like the same people complain about the same things that I don't normally complain before quickly uttering those words to say that I am a patient man. That seems rather fine and dandy to a slight extent but when you are talking about Christians that complain on the seemingly minor things just because we will not tolerate waiting (and sometimes thinking) awhile, it kinda becomes an issue. It's like we say that we have some patience but isn't apparent in our actions.
One of the fruits of the Spirit is patience, among the other 8 fruits and meant to increase in measure as we proceed with our Christian lives. We are not meant to be lacking in any of those or just obtain a pass but to abound in it. Showing patience may not seem like much but I'd like to argue that it ranks well as being a great lifestyle testimony as a Christian. In fact all 9 fruits of the Spirit are meant to show great testimony as Christians and how we should live as opposed to the other stuff in Galatians 5. Back to the topic, so what do you do when in the presence of a person who lacks patience? Gently correct them of course. And I think this is something that we don't seem to do enough of as Christians. We teach others about understanding the Bible, teach how to love like how Christ loves etc. which are all immensely good things to do but I think we should also teach people on how to be patient because seriously, this is underrated stuff. When Jonah talked to God after God spared Nineveh from total destruction, one of his qualities was that he was slow to anger and I think that implies that God is a patient God, evident enough through the Old Testament. As a side note, I find it slightly ironic that Jonah quotes this about God being slow to anger while he was being angry at God for sparing the Ninevites. Anyway, if we profess to serve a patient God, shouldn't we be patient ourselves?
One small thing to note here is that patience does not equal slackness. God is patient but he is never slack in carrying out his plans. So we can't swing to the other extreme by exercising mind-over-matter-like stances and just say "Nope I'll be "patient" and not do anything about it". There is a limit to patience after which action must be taken. And no complaining when you do take it. God carried out his judgment after being patient towards all the sins committed by his people and who continually disobeyed him even after giving numerous warnings from the prophets.
Now I never claim I am a patient man myself so I'm not being hypocritical about this. I do struggle with other areas in patience while have a rather thick skin on certain minor annoyances. There are some things I can help and there are some things that I'll need help. As Christians, we are meant to be separate from the world and as the world's pace gets ever faster and faster, one way that we can do to be set apart is to be patient.
Brain asplode.
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